Update -; Holloway Road closure concessions come into force

Ahead of the next full closure of Holloway Road this weekend (18-21 November) by Transport for London (TfL), Islington Labour councillors have been keeping up the pressure on behalf of local people to reduce the potential impact.

Labour-run Islington Council has secured a number of significant concessions, including a ban on HGVs and changes to bus routes using the diversion route, and wide-reaching promotion from TfL that local businesses are open as usual.

Following a public meeting last week, Cllr Webbe’s site visit with Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn and ongoing dialogue with TfL, the Council has had further concessions from TfL ahead of this weekend’s closure.

As a result of Islington Labour councillors’ interventions, TfL have confirmed that:

TfL will investigate whether further changes to bus services in the area are required, particularly those using the diversion route,
Air quality monitoring equipment has been installed on Tufnell Park Road, where traffic is being diverted,
TfL has installed additional signage across key locations across the capital to advise motorists to avoid the A1 Holloway Road. This includes signage reinforcing the HGV diversion route,
TfL will reinforce the HGV ban on the diversion route by installing CCTV to monitor traffic and allow it to respond rapidly to any incidents. TfL and the Metropolitan Police are also deploying resources at the entrance to Tufnell Park Road to provide a visible deterrent to HGVs,
TfL will ensure an integrated response to the impact of the road closures, including sending letters to 130,000 residential and business properties and placing adverts in the local press, the Evening Standard and local radio.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “As a result of tireless work from councillors, residents and local businesses, TfL is delivering on the actions it promised. But this is no time to be complacent, as the Holloway Road closures are set to continue into the New Year, and we have yet to see how all of these mitigations will work in practice.

“The full closure this weekend will undoubtedly cause disruption for Islington but these concessions are a positive step forward. We will continue to keep up the pressure on TfL to ensure it delivers on its promises and monitors the situation.”

Pictured – Local councilors opposite Upper Holloway Station